JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —
Walk-on Aidan Warner was 7-of-22 for 66 yards with an interception. Warner was thrust onto the field because Florida starter Graham Mertz tore a ligament in his left knee at Tennessee last month and is out for the season.
The Gators kept the game close thanks to a stingy defense that forced Beck into more mistakes. Jack Pyburn, Aaron Gates and Devin Moore had picks that led to a combined 10 points for Florida.
But the most significant turnover belonged to the Gators. Punter Jeremy Crawshaw failed to handle Rocco Underwood’s low snap on a 51-yard field goal attempt late in the third. It resulted in a 31-yard loss, setting up Beck’s first TD pass.
The Gators tied the score on Ja’Kobi Jackson’s 15-yard TD run. But Beck and the Bulldogs answered with a 75-yard drive, highlighted by Beck’s completions of 34 and 21 yards, and capped by his 10-yard TD pass to Dominic Lovett.
Warner threw an interception on the ensuing play, and Georgia scored two plays later to ice it.
